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Monday, November 22, 2010

Pedo, Thanksgiving, SD, Mom, and Other Rambling Thoughts...

Ryan left last Saturday, November 13th, to fly across the country and the ocean for a series of pedo interviews.

On Sunday and Monday, he interviewed in Denver, Colorado.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, he interviewed in Honolulu, Hawaii.

On Thursday and Friday, he interviewed in Salt Lake City, Utah.

And now he is a Pocatello, Idaho, enjoying a few days with his family...until tomorrow night, when we will meet up in Denver, I will give him a big smooch, and we will spend the Thanksgiving weekend with my Pops and my Sisters.

I can't wait.

I get lonesome without Ryan around. And I'm cold at night.

Eventually, Ryan is going to have to "rank" all of these pedo options. He will put together a list of his top choice programs, and the programs will put together a list of their top choice applicants, and then a computer will "match" us (hopefully) to a wonderful place where we will spend the next two years of our lives. I say "hopefully" because there's no guarantee he will get accepted anywhere, let alone at one of his top choice programs. But I think he's quite darling and very delightful...smart and fun too...so hopefully those interviewers will agree with me.

On a completely unrelated note, I got an email from my dad this morning outlining his plans for the holiday weekend. The subject line was "Funnest." (This is a frequent one-word declaration made by the Westover girls when we are excited about something.) I decided that I will paste the email here, and I will include some translations at the end to explain my father's lingo:

"As you know, Little Pal is here now, so SD is happy. He will get even happier over the next couple of days.

A few things I'd like to do while we're all together. I'm sure you'll have some to add:

1. Set up Christmas tree and maybe a few other decorations - Thursday morning.

2. Thanksgiving dinner is at 2 or 3 on Thursday. It will probably be just our family and the Oldsters. I'd like to have a little Thanksgiving devotional-like thing with them. Nothing elaborate. I have a scripture I like (Psalm 100 a/k/a The Thanksgiving Psalm) that we could read and discuss, and then everyone could just mention something or a few things they are thankful for. I'm open to any other ideas about this.

His email made me smile. It also made me remember a similar email, sent eight years ago. During my first semester of college, I was feeling pretty stressed and homesick right before the Thanksgiving break, and my mom sent me an encouraging email explaining all of the fun things she had planned for my long weekend:

"Rachel: I am sorry that you are having such a hard time. Hang in there! We are so excited for you to come home! The number one thing you need to do is SLEEP, and the number two thing is RELAX!!!!!! I want to think of some fun things to do while you're here, since Dad will be around and so we don't end up wasting the weekend. Here are some ideas I thought of:

-Melting Pot? -Make some kind of treats or Christmas items for your Relief Society sisters? -Movie?.....I have no idea what's out there, since I only go to movies with my daughters -Skiing? -Sleeping -Relaxing -Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's -More sleeping -More relaxing

I'll keep trying to think of ideas. Do you have any ideas? We are wide open for suggestions!

WE LOVE YOU! TRY NOT TO STRESS OUT TOO MUCH! Don't forget to sleep, take your vitamins, exercise, pray, and breathe deeply! :)

Love, Big Mama"

You may be wondering how I am quoting from an eight-year-old email. Well, this morning, I went into my old email account, went back into the history, and found the email.

As I read her words, my heart ached a little. I miss her more than I even know.

But then I remembered that I still have someone who sends me encouraging emails: my dad. And the more I thought about that, the more grateful I became.

I've written and talked about my mom a lot...most people know all about my mom...but I haven't shared enough about my amazing father.

This is the man who I called earlier this week on the way to school, and when he asked how I was doing, I broke down sobbing. "Why can't I have a baby?" I blubbered into the phone, and he just listened and told me he loves me and told me he's sorry that everything is difficult right now.

My dad knows the update on every fertility treatment and every doctor's consultation. Not many dads would know that stuff...and actually, I doubt he would know that stuff if my mom were still alive. But since she's not, he has stepped in and been there for his girls in every way.

He sends us care packages for holidays. He sends us flowers on the first day of our new school years (we're all teachers). He spoils us and even takes us shopping when he comes for a visit. (He dozes on the couch outside the dressing room while we pick something out.) He really is "Super Dad."

15 comments:

Rachel, I don't comment on here often, but I follow your blog and keep up with what's going on with you guys. I read this and thought how great your dad is. I also thought how wonderful that you have that email from your mom. That's really neat. Also, I love how similar those two emails are. That is priceless.

I hope things go well for you guys and good luck to both of you getting through the interview and match process. We'll be going through the same thing with med school a year from now. Pretty crazy stuff!

This post made me cry a little. I loved your mom without ever knowing her. Did I ever tell you that? I thought she was amazing for sending you a halloween package with delightful orange socks in it. I was so impressed with Laura when she came to visit you and wondered if I would ever be as cool as your little sister. (I'm still not, P.S.) In short, I was wondering, do you think your family would adopt me? ;)

oh you live it up woman with that FAN-tastic fam of yours! (and Ryan!)your dad reminds me of my dad! ;)i love getting those kind of e-mails.makes you feel needed and loved. . . both of which are the MOST important things to feel :)Happy Turkey Day honey!

Wow... he really IS super Dad. What a cute email from him... and from your mom 8 years ago. It's interesting to learn about other people's "cool" parents. It gives me ideas to use in the future... given I remember them. Have a great trip home!

That's so cute it nearly made me cry. The holidays always make me so appreciative of family and miss them so much. It sounds like Ryan interviewed at some great places. I hope one of them works out for the two of you! I bet it's crazy to think that you are at that point in his education.

THE LITTLE GAL

Lover of squishes from Mama, snuggles from Daddy, and tickles from Brother

Who feels content and smiley first thing in the morning

Who needs shoes that will actually stay on her kicking, wiggly feet

Who gives mega-watt grins that melt the heart

Who fears the raucous (but affectionate) smothering of her older brother

Who would like to see her aunties and grandparents more often

Resident of a comfy one-story home where she is the queen

THE LITTLE GUY

Lover of the Polar Express, all things sugar, and his "Baby Sister"

Who feels ecstatic when "chuffing" one of his beloved trains around the house

Who needsexplanations for everything, big and small

Who gives strangers a reason to smile with his friendly chatter

Who fears"spooky" shadows, scary scenes in movies, and toilets that flush by themselves

Who would like to see a friend come over to play every single day

Resident of a house covered in photos of him and his sister

RACH

Lover of conversationswith a kindred, homemade chocolate chip cookies, and Idaho sunsetsWho feels overwhelmingly happy when nibbling on one of her delicious childrenWho needs daily quiet time to thinkWho fears losing someone else whom she loves

Who givescare packages to her friends and love letters to her kids and RyanWho would like to see more openness, compassion, and individuality in the worldResident of a little house with cute daisy bushes in front

RY

Lover of ice cream, the night sky, and dance parties with his happy kidsWho feels glorious at the peak of an Idaho mountainWho needs alone time to just look at the ceiling when he gets home from workWho gives froyo gift certificates and sugar-free suckers to his dental patientsWho fears talking on the phone and settling for less than his potentialWho would like to see family cartrips in a minivan to explore the WestResident of Twin Falls, ID

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